India PM seeking confidence vote after communist allies withdraw support

New Delhi: India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will seek a confidence vote in his government after the government's communist allies withdrew their support to protest a nuclear deal with the United States, his office said on Thursday.

The date will be likely announced on Friday.

"The prime minister met the president and sought a trust vote and the date will likely be decided tomorrow," a spokesman for the prime minister said.

The key regional Samajwadi Party has pledged its support for the government.

However, it is still unclear if the ruling coalition has enough votes for a parliamentary majority.

If the government loses in the no-confidence vote, an early election may be called, which will likely end any chances of the nuclear pact going into practice.